aubert



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. AUBERT.

REPEATING WATCH.

No. 368,904.. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

WITNESSES: W J INVENTOR MQ M W $4 MM l I 7 N. PETERs, FbMvLithogn-phur, Wulnngmn. D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. AUBERT.

REPEATING WATCH.

N0.368,904. PatentedAug. 23,1 887.

W/TNESSES: INVENTOR 9. Jy %W@ "MM Arromvsw.

N FETERS mm-mm n ner, w-min m, n. c.

' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G- AUBERT. u

REPEATI-NG WAT'GH.

No. 368,904 Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

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striking devices.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES AUBERT, OF LE SENTIER, VAUD, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO PROSPER NORDMANN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REPEATlNG-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,904, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed January 26, 1887. Serial No. 225,524. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnonens Ao'nnn'r, of Le Sentier, canton de Vaud, Switzerland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Repeating Attachments to Watches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved repeating attachment to watches, and has forits object to simplify the construction of the repeating mechanism and to reduce the liability of the same of getting out of order.

The invention consists of arepeating attachment to watches in whichv two ratchet-levers are pivoted to a common pivot and returned by a single spring in actuating the striking devices. One of the ratchet-levers is oscillated by a spring-actuated lever, while the other ratchetlever is operated, after being unlocked, by an independent spring. On the return of the ratchet-levers to their normal position the ratchet ends of the same actuate spring-actuated clicks, which cause the sounding of the The oscillating motion of both ratchet-levers is limited by an hour and minute snail, the position of which regulates the striking of the corresponding hour and minute devices. A moderating-gear retards the return motion of the ratchet-levers and produces the striking of the hour and minutes at even intervals.

The invention also consists in the construction and combination of parts and details, as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front View of my improved repeating attachments to watches, in which the bridge or plate above the moderating-gear is removed and all the parts in a normal position. Fig. l is a vertical central section,drawn on a larger scale, of the spring by which the ratchet-levers are returned to their normal position of rest. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bridge above the moderating-gear in place and the parts in position for action. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the two ratchet-levers being removed. Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified construction of the spring for returning the ratchet-levers. Fig. 5 is a front view of part of another modification, showing a different arrangement of said spring.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

My repeating attachment consists, essen* tially, of a ratchet-lever, A, for striking the hours, a second ratchet-lever, a, for striking the minutes, a motor-spring, Y, for working both levers and returning them to their normal position of rest, a speed-moderating gear, Z, and an actuating-lever, WV, by which motion is imparted to the ratchet-levers A a.

The ratchet-lever A is mounted on a square pivot, Y, which is connected to the motorspring Y by a square sleeve, Y (Shown in Fig. P.) The lever A is curved and provided at its outer end with a segmental ratchet, B, which acts upon one arm of a bell-crank-shaped click, 0, the other arm of which acts on apin, D, at one end of a hammer that strikes a circular steel rod, which serves as a bell. The hammer and bell are of the same construction as in the repeating attachments heretofore in use, and are not shown in the drawings, they being located below the bottom plate of the movement and covered by the same. A spring, E, is fastened to the frame ofthe movement and presses against the pin D,and moves it in the opposite direction to that in which it is pressed by the click 0 when the same is actuated by the ratchet B of the lever A.

To the pivot Y of the ratchet-lever A is applied the pivot A of the second or minute ratchet-lever, a, which is mounted thereto above the ratchet'lever A, said lever to being also provided at one end with a ratchet, b, which acts on one arm of a second bell-crank click, 0, the other end of which bears against a pin, d, that projects from one end of a second hammer of the usual construction, which hammer strikes a curved wire or bell located at the under side of the bottom plate in the same manner as the hammer and bell of the click (3. A spring, 0, fastened to the frame of the movement,presses the pin din the reverse direction to that in which it is pressed by the click 0. A spring, F, fastened to the frame of the movement,presses against straight checks of both clicks 0 c and retains them in position by bearing on laterally-extending flanges, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The spring F also returns the clicks so as to engage with the teeth. of the ratchets B b. As the hammers are attached to the under side of the bottom plate of the movement, openings G g are provided in said plate, through which openings the pins D (1 project into the path of the clicks, as shown in the drawings.

From the under side of the ratchet-lever a projects a stoppin, H, which moves along an are-shaped portion, h, of the ratchet-lever A, a notch, h, being arranged at one end of the are it and a shoulder, h", at the other end of the same, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, said are and notch permitting the ratchetlever a to oscillate without obstruction, while the shoulder h serves to carry the same along and return it with the lever A into the normal position. The ratchet-lever a is further pro vided with a notch, j, which is engaged by a locking pin or detent, J, that is located at the free end of a spring, K, fastened at K to the frame of the movement, said spring being located below the ratchet-lever A. The head of the stop-pin H projects above the upper surface of the ratchet-lever a and is acted upon by the free end of a lever, I, which is fastened to the frame of the movement at I, said spring causing the lever a to oscillate as soon as released from the detent J.

To the under side of the ratchet-lever A is pivoted an abutment, L, which is provided at one end with a pin, L, that passes through an opening, M, in the ratchet-lever A, by which opening the play of the sameis confined. The abutment L bears on the spring K, which carries the detent J, and releases the same from the ratchet-lever a at the proper moment. The latch L is provided at the end opposite to that to which the pin L is applied with a projection, on, which bears against one of the steps of the cam-shaped hour-snai1 N, that is actuated in the usual manner by a pin, a, of aminute-snail, a, keyed to the arbor of the minute-hand, said pin n engaging the teeth of a spur-wheel, N, on the arbor of the hoursnail N. The ratchet-1ever a is similarly provided with a projection, 0,which abuts against one of the steps of the minute-snail n,when the lever a is oscillated by its spring I.

The ratchetlever A is provided at that end which is located opposite to the ratchetB with a toothed segment, P, which meshes with a pinion, Q, of the moderating-gear Z, said pinion being mounted on the arbor of a gearwheel, Q, that meshes with a pinion, R, on the arbor of a ratchet-wheel, R. The ratchetwheel R is engaged by a spring-pawl, S, attached to a gear-wheel, S, which latter is mounted loosely on the arbor of the ratchetwheel R. \Vhen the ratchet-wheel Ris moved in one direction,the pawl S clears the teeth of the same without carrying the gear-wheel S along, while when the ratchet-wheel R is turned in the opposite direction the gearwheel S is locked to the gear-wheel R by the spring-pawl S, and thereby enabled to transmit motion to a pinion, T, on the arbor of a gear-wheel,T, which latter meshes with a pinion, U, on the arbor of an escapement-wheel, U, that oscillates an escapement, V, while a spring, V, acting on the wing-shaped lever V of the eseapement V, moves it in opposite direction. The pinions, gear-wheels, ratchetwheel,and escapernent form together the moderating-gear Z, which serves to regulate or moderate the speed of the ratchet-levers A a while they are returned by the motor-spring Y.

The repeating mechanism is operated by the lever \V, that is pivoted to the sleeve Y of the motor-spring Y and extended beyond the watchcasing. The lever 'W carries a stud or pin, V, which engages a shoulder, W, of the ratehet'lever A. The lever N is provided at its inner end with a notch, t",(shown in Fig. 3,) that is engaged by the free end of a spring, 6, the opposite end of which is attached to the bottom plate of the movement. The spring 6 serves to return the lever \V whenever it is released, so that it does not exert a retarding action on the return movement of the ratchetlevers.

The motor-spring Y is of sufficient strength to overcome the tension of the springs I, F, E, and c. It is arranged in a fixed barrel, Y, located below the lever NV, and attached at its inner end to a sleeve, Y and at its outer end to the fixed barrel Y, as shown in Fig. 1. The sleeve Y has a square socket, into which is fitted the square pivot A of the ratchet-lever A, said pivot carrying in a central perforation the pivot of the ratchet-lever a. The lever NY is placed loosely on the upper end of the sleeve Y", which end projects above the fixed barrel Y, as shown in Fig. 1. In place of the spiral springY a straight or bent spring, 12, may be used, which is fastened at one end, 10, to the frame of the movement and at its free end to a roller, if, of the hour ratchet-lever A, as shown in Fig. 4:. In place of pro viding a roller, 14, and slot at, the connection of the spring a with the ratchet-lever A may be made by a link, r, that is pivoted to the free end of the spring 12 and to the ratchetlever A, as shown in Fig.

The minute ratchet-lever a is provided at that end where the ratchet b is located with a curved hook or prong, s, that extends, when in normal position, around a pin, 8, of the click 0, so as to press the latter back and move it out of the path of the teeth of the ratchet B of the lever A, as shown in Fig. 1. The click 0 is arranged to oscillate above the ratchetlever A, so that the latter on being oscillated passes below the same without affecting the same. Both clicks are operated by the spring F as they are successively actuated by the ratchets of the hour and minute levers A a.

The operation of the repeating attachment is as follows: When the repeating mechanism is to be operated, the ratchet-levers A a are moved from their normal position of rest (shown in Fig. 1) into the position shown in Fig. 2 by moving the projecting end of the lever W in thedirection of the arrow at, Fig. 1. The pin W acts thereby on the shoulder W of the ratchet-lever A and moves said lever in the direction of the arrow :0 Fig. 1, until the projection m of the abutment L, pivoted to the under side of the lever A, strikes one of the steps of the hour-snail N, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2. The opposite end or heel of the abutment L is moved simultaneously therewith in the direction of the arrow 00, Fig. 2, so that said heel presses the detent-spring K in the direction of the arrow 00', Fig. 2, and disengages the detent J from the recess j of the ratchet-lever a. The spring I acts then instantly on the head of the pin or screw H of the ratchet-lever a and moves the ratchet end I) of the same in the direction of the arrow 00 until its stop abuts against one of the steps of the minute-snail n, as shown in Fig. 2. The prong s of the ratchet-lever a releases simultaneously with the unlocking of the lever a by the detent J the pin 3 of the click 0, so that the latter is moved by the spring F into the path of the ratchet of thelever A. The' number of teeth of the ratehets B 1) correspond exaetly to the number of steps of the hour and minute snails N n, which steps determine the extent of motion or strokes of the levers A a and permit a corresponding number of teeth of the ratehets B b to be moved beyond the clicks 0 0, said teeth actuating the clicks by the return movements of the levers A a, and sounding, consequently, the hour and minute bells in accordance with the time indicated by the watch-movement in the same manner as in the repeating-watches heretofore in use. By the movement of the lever W and ratchet-lever A the spiral motor-spring Y, contained in the barrel, or the motor-spring o is brought in tension and has the tendency to return the ratchet-lever A back to its normal position. During the motion of the ratchet-lever A in the direction of the arrow 90 Fig. 1, the moderatinggear is not actuated, while during the return motion of the same it is thrown into action by the spring-pawl S, so that the speed or" the levers A a is regulated and the ratchets B b of the same enabled to actuate the clicks 0 c at regular intervals as often as required, so as to cause the striking of the hammers and bells according to the number of teeth moved past the clicks by the action of the lever W and the relative positions of the hour and minute snails N n. Then the last tooth of the hour ratchet-lever A has passed the click 0, the shoulder h of the ratchet-lever A enges the pin H of the ratchet-lever a, and carries thereby the latter along,so as to cause the teeth of the ratchet b to act 011 the click 0, and sound thereby the minute bell. The ratchet b imparts as many strokes to the hammer of the minute-striking device as teeth of the ratchet have passed beyond the click a, each stroke representing five minutes. When the ratchet-lever a has completed its return movement, the detent J reengages the recess j and locks the lever a again into its normal position. By the return movement of the lever a the tension of the spring I is re-established and the same ready for oscillating again the ratchet-lever at until the same is returned with the ratchet-lever A by the motorspring Y or o,which spring serves to turn both ratchetdevers, and produce thereby the actuating of the striking devices. When the ratchet-lever a has completed its return move ment, the prong s at its outer end strikes the pin 8 of the click O,whereby the said click is moved on its fulcrum out of the path of the ratchet B, so that when the latter is movedin the direction of the arrow 00 its teeth can pass clear of the click 0 without engaging therewith.

lever a is moved in the direction of the arrow 90 owing to the release of the detent-spring K and the action of the spring I, and then the prong s is disengaged from the pin 8 of the click 0, so that the spring F throws the click 0 into the path of the ratchet B, ready to be engaged by the teeth of the ratchet B when the ratchet-lever A is returned to its normal position by the motor-spring Y. In case the lever XV should not move to its full extent, the ratchet-lever A is not completely oscillated, and therefore the ratchetlever a not released from its detent J, nor its prong sreleased from the click 0, so that consequently the ratchetlever A is returned into normal position without actuating the striking devices. The full oscillation of the lever W, however, produces the full oscillation of the ratchet-lever A, the release and oscillation of the ratchet-lever a, and the return of both leversAabythe'action of their common motor-spring, so that thereby the striking devices are operated and the proper time indicated by the number of the strokes of the hour and minute hammers.

If desired, the repeating attachment may be arranged with three striking devices for striking the hours, quarters, and minutes, in which case a third ratchet-lever is arranged above the second ratchet-lever, by which the striking devices are operated to strike minutes in the same manner as in the hour and minute striking devices described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A repeating-watch provided with oscillating hour and minute ratehetlevers for operating the striking devices, an actuating-lever for moving the hour ratchet-lever in one di reetion, a spring-actuated detent for locking the minute ratchet-lever, means operated by the hour ratchet-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the minute ratchetlever in the same direction as the hour ratchet-lever, and a motor-spring for returning both levers to their normal position, substantially as set forth.

2. A repeatingwatch provided with oscillating hour and minute ratchetlevers for operating the striking devices, an actuating-le- Only after the teeth of the ratchet B have passed beyond the click (3 the ratchet- IIO ver for moving thehourratehetdever, a spring actuated detent for locking the minute-lever, means operated by the hour-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the minute ratchet-leverin thedirection of the hourlever, a motor-spring for returning both ratchet levers to the normal position, and a spring engaging said actuating-lever and returning it independently of the ratehet-levers, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of pivoted hourand minute ratchet-levers, the hour-lever having a toothed segment opposite to the ratchet end, an actuating-lever for moving the hour rateh et-lcver in one direction, a springactuated detent for locking the minute-lever, means operated by the hour-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the minute ratchet-lever in the same direction as the hour ratchet-lever, a motor-spring for returning both ratchetlevers to their normal position, and a moderating-gear operated by the toothed segment for regulating the speed of the ratchet-levers during their return movement, sub stantial] y as set forth.

L. The combination ofpivoted hour-and min- -ute ratchet-levers, the hourlever having a notch and a shoulder and the minute-lever a pin or stud for engagement with said shoulder, an actuatinglever for moving the hour ratchet-lever, a spring-actuated detent for locking the minute ratchetlever, means operated by the hour-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the minute ratchetlever in the same direction as the hourlever, and a motor-spring for returning both ratchet-levers, said hour ratchet-lever carrying the minute-lever along when its shoulder engages the stud of the minute-lever, subslantially as set forth.

5. The combination of two pivoted ratchetlevers for operating the striking devices, an abutment pivoted to one of said levers, a spring-actuated detent for locking the other lever, and step-shaped hour and minute snails, said abutment releasing the detent when striking against thehour-snail, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the pivoted ratchetlevers A a, the formerhaving an aperture, M, and the latter a notch, j, and a projection, 0, an abutment, L, pivoted at the under side of the lever A and provided at one end with a projection, m, and at the opposite end with a pin, L, that passes through the aperture M, a spring, K, provided with the detent J, and the hour and minute snails N and a, substantially as set forth.

7. In a repeating-Watch, the combination of the pivoted ratchet-levers A a, the lever a having a stud, H, a spring-actuated detent, J, for the lever a, a spring, 1', resting against the pin or stud H and moving the lever a in one direction, and a motor-spring, Y, for return ing the ratchctlevers A a and re-cstablishing the tension of the spring I, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of two oscillating ratchet-levers and their actuating lever and springs, with fulcrumed clicks engaging the ratchet ends of said levers, and a spring that actuatcs both clicks, substantially as described.

9. The combination of two oscillating ratchet-lcvers and their actuating leverand springs, with fulcrumcd bell-erank-shaped clicks, and a spring for engaging both clicks, said clicks engaging the ratchet ends of the lovers and the projecting pins of the spring-hammers of the striking devices, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination oftwo oscillating ratchet-levcrs and theiractuating lever and springs, one of said levers having a curved arm or hool: at its ratchet end, with fulcrumed and springpressed clicks, one of said clicks having a pin or stud that is engaged by the curved arm or hook of the ratchet-lever, so as to be moved out of the path of the other ratchet-lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

e. AUBE rr.

Witnesses:

H. GOLAZ, L. T. Annals. 

